The future shape of EU’s energy system, related infrastructure, decarbonisation. These are some of the main topics of the informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for energy taking place on Thursday and Friday (4-5 September) in Copenhagen. Although the so-called Energy Union is a common goal, member states are at different stages of readiness.
The development of the European energy system after 2030 and issues related to the necessary adjustments of energy infrastructure will be discussed at the the upcoming Energy Council. Ministers will also talk about cross-border energy networks within the EU, which is to become the basis of the so-called Energy Union.
Infrastructure under pressure
The rapid increase of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy has led to increased demands on energy infrastructure in recent years. This infrastructure must cope with significant fluctuations, which depend, for example, on the intensity of sunlight or wind strength. Overcoming infrastructure development gaps is not going to come cheaply, however. The EU estimates that the necessary investments in European energy networks will amount to several hundred billion euros.
In a brief statement for EU Perspectives, Germany’s Ministry of Economy and Energy (BMWE) confirmed the emphasis on so-called smart energy networks. In Germany this involves transmission of energy generated primarily by wind farms along the north coast to the central and southern parts of the country. These are densely populated areas with a lot of industry where demand for electricity is greatest.
Priorities differ country by country
In terms of energy, member states clearly have different priorities. “We will support infrastructure planning with regard to the decarbonisation of industry and the transformation of regions. This applies in particular to regions dependent on coal. We will also support the use of innovative solutions to increase the overall efficiency of the network,” says Lukáš Vlček, Czechia’s Minister for Industry and Trade, speaking to EU Perspectives ahead of the Energy Council.
Mr Vlček also emphasized that the European energy structure must be “balanced and include renewables as well as nuclear sources”. His statements reflect the fact that Czechia, unlike many other member states, still generates energy in coal-fired plants and supports nuclear energy.
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Germany, on the contrary, phased out nuclear sources completely in 2023.
Northern Europe as leader in renewables
According to Eurostat, 47% of electricity in the European Union was already produced from renewable sources in 2024. This mainly includes energy generated by wind turbines, solar panels, and hydroelectric power plants.
However, there are significant differences between member states. For example, Denmark and Portugal cover almost 90 per cent of their electricity consumption with renewable energy sources. Czechia, Malta, and Luxembourg are at the bottom of the scale with a share below 20 per cent. Nuclear sources account for around per cent of the electricity produced in the EU.
